Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yocarmella’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Yocarmella’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; small decorative-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets; red-colored ray florets; and natural season flowering in mid October in the Northern Hemisphere.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Chrysanthemum×morifoliumcultivar Yocarmella.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially known as a garden-type Chrysanthemum and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Yocarmella’.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Salinas, Calif., and Alva, Fla. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new garden-type Chrysanthemum cultivarshaving inflorescences with desirable inflorescence forms, attractivefloret colors and good garden performance.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made inJanuary, 2001 in Salinas, Calif. of a proprietaryChrysanthemum×morifolium seedling selection identified as code number98-M305, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryChrysanthemum×morifolium seedling selection identified as code number93-L372002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newChrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grownin a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. in October, 2001. Theselection of this plant was based on its desirable inflorescence form,attractive ray floret color and good garden performance.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttingstaken in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. since December, 2001,has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Yocarmella has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Yocarmella’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Yocarmella’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit; dense and full plants.

3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.

4. Small decorative-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped rayflorets.

5. Red-colored ray florets.

6. Natural season flowering in mid October in the Northern Hemisphere.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChrysanthemum differed from plants of the female parent, the proprietaryseedling selection identified as code number 98-M305, in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about two weeks later thanplants of the female parent selection when grown under natural seasonconditions.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about five to seven dayslater than plants of the female parent selection when grown underartificial short day/long night photoperiodic conditions.

3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent selectiondiffered in ray floret coloration as plants of the female parentselection had dark lavender-colored ray florets.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChrysanthemum differed from plants of the male parent, the proprietaryseedling selection identified as code number 93-L372002, in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered a few days later than plantsof the male parent selection under natural season conditions.

2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had fewer discflorets than inflorescences of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Raquel, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,982.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Raquel in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were smaller, more uniform and morerounded than plants of the cultivar Raquel.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered more uniformly than plantsof the cultivar Raquel.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Mistretta, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Chrysanthemumdiffered from plants of the cultivar Mistretta in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were smaller and more rounded thanplants of the cultivar Mistretta.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered more uniformly than plantsof the cultivar Mistretta.

3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences thanplants of the cultivar Mistretta.

4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered a few days earlier thanplants of the cultivar Mistretta under natural season conditions.

5. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum faded slower than rayflorets of plants of the cultivar Mistretta.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Yocarmella’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of the cultivar ‘Yocarmella’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown in Alva, Fla. duringthe winter in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse under conditions andpractices which approximate those generally used in commercialgarden-type Chrysanthemum production. One cutting was planted in a15.25-cm container in early December, 2002. Plants were pinched onetime, that is, the terminal apex was removed to enhance branching, atthe end of December. One week after the pinch, plants were exposed toshort day/long night photoperiodic treatments until flowering. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C. and nightaveraged 18° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages fortypical flowering plants.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Yocarmella.

Commercial classification: Decorative-type garden Chrysanthemum.

Parentage:

Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifolium seedlingselection identified as code number 98-M305, not patented.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifolium seedlingselection identified as code number 93-L372002, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About four days at 21° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About ten to twelve days at 21° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Plant form/growth habit.—Perennial herbaceous decorative-type gardenChrysanthemum. Inverted triangle with mounded crown. Stems initiallyupright, then somewhat outwardly spreading. Freely branching withlateral branches potentially developing at every node. Moderatelyvigorous.

Plant height.—About 19 cm.

Plant diameter.—about 21 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Internodelength: About 1.5 cm. Aspect: Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading.Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A.

Foliage description.—Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 5 cm.Width: About 3.6 cm. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Palmatelylobed, sinuses divergent. Texture, upper surface: Slightly pubescent.Texture, lower surface: Pubescent; veins prominent. Color: Developingand fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing and fullyexpanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper surface: 147A.Venation, lower surface: 147B. Petiole length: About 1.5 cm. Petiolediameter: About 2 mm. Petiole color, upper surface: 147A to 147B.Petiole color, lower surface: 147B.

Inflorescence description:

Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with elongatedoblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals abovefoliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc and ray florets developingacropetally on a capitulum. About eleven inflorescences per lateralbranch.

Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants flower inmid October in the Northern Hemisphere.

Inflorescence bud (before showing color).—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter:About 7 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color (lower surface of phyllaries): Close to147A.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3.5 cm. Depth (height): About 1.5cm. Disc diameter: About 2.5 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 3 mm.

Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 1.75 cm. Corollatube length: About 3 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Apex: Acute to emarginate.Margin: Fused. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Surface: Concave.Orientation: Initially upright, then perpendicular to vertical. Numberof ray florets per inflorescence: About 142 in numerous whorls. Color:When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 187A to 187B. Fullyopened, upper surface: Close to 9A overlain with 53A. Fully opened,lower surface: Close to 9C underlain with 59A.

Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed. Length: About4 mm. Width, apex: About 1.5 mm. Width, base: About 1 mm. Number of discflorets per inflorescence: About 15. Color: Immature: Close to 154A.Mature: Apex: Close to 9A. Mid-section: Close to 144B. Base: Close to155D.

Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 18. Length: About 6 mm.Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, waxy. Texture, lower surface:Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface:Close to 147A.

Peduncle.—Length: First peduncle: About 4 cm. Forth peduncle: About 4.5cm. Seventh peduncle: About 4.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.25 mm. Strength:Strong. Aspect: About 30° from vertical. Texture: Pubescent. Color:146A.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anthercolor: 9A. Pollen: None observed. Gynoecium: Present on both ray anddisc florets.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not beenshown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Chrysanthemums.

Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been observedto be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from 0 to morethan 38° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Yocarmella’, as illustrated and described.